NAIA lacrosse explained
See also: NAIA women's lacrosse championship.
There are numerous men's and women's college lacrosse teams at schools that are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which is an alternate varsity athletic organization to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) was the first NAIA lacrosse conference to offer a championship for both men and women.[1]
During the summer of 2015, the NAIA approved men's and women's lacrosse to move from emerging sport status to national invitational. This move allows NAIA varsity teams to compete within the NAIA rather than an outside organization. The first NAIA National Invitational Tournament (NIT) was held in May 2016 in Greenville, South Carolina. Lacrosse is required to remain an invitational sport for a minimum of two years before applying for full championship status. Women's lacrosse moved to championship status beginning in the 2020–21 season. The inaugural NAIA women's lacrosse championship was held in Savannah, Georgia, in May 2021. As of summer 2022 men's lacrosse remained on invitational status.
Men's programs
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
|---|
| University of the Cumberlands | Patriots | Williamsburg, Kentucky | 1,743 |
| Keiser University | Seahwaks | West Palm Beach, Florida | 19,510 |
| Montreat College | Cavaliers | Montreat, North Carolina | 1,145 |
| Point University | SkyHawks | West Point, Georgia | 1,035 |
| Reinhardt University | Eagles | Waleska, Georgia | 1,057 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Bees | Savannah, Georgia | 2,500+ |
| St. Andrews University | Knights | Laurinburg, North Carolina | 800 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Bulldogs | Athens, Tennessee | 1,100 |
| Webber International University | Warriors | Babson Park, Florida | 800 | |
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
|---|
| Benedictine College | Ravens | Atchison, Kansas | 2,200 |
| Clarke University | Pride | Dubuque, Iowa | 1,100 |
| Missouri Valley College | Vikings | Marshall, Missouri | 1,800 |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Cougars | Mount Vernon, Ohio | 2,222 |
| St. Ambrose University | Bees | Davenport, Iowa | 3,402 |
| William Penn University | Statesmen | Oskaloosa, Iowa | 1,050 | |
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
|---|
| Aquinas College | Saints | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 2,300 |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Cardinals | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 1,200 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology | Warriors | Fort Wayne, Indiana | 7,000 |
| Lawrence Technological University | Blue Devils | Southfield, Michigan | 3,000 |
| Lourdes University | Gray Wolves | Sylvania, Ohio | 1,546 |
| Madonna University | Crusaders | Livonia, Michigan | 3,139 |
| Siena Heights University | Saints | Adrian, Michigan | 2,307 |
| Taylor University | Trojans | Upland, Indiana | 1,887 |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | Wolverines | Dearborn, Michigan | 9,500 | |
Club teams
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
|---|
| Arizona Christian University | Firestorm | Glendale, Arizona | 1,001 |
| Biola University | Eagles | La Mirada, California | 3,924 |
| College of Idaho | Coyotes | Caldwell, Idaho | 1,000 |
| Multnomah University | Lions | Portland, Oregon | 335 |
| Sierra Nevada University | Eagles | Incline Village, Nevada | 617 |
| Southern Oregon University | Raiders | Ashland, Oregon | 5,260 |
| University of Providence | Argos | Great Falls, Montana | 2,100 |
| Westcliff University | Warriors | Irvine, California | 2,779 | |
Future Programs
Women's programs
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
|---|
| University of the Cumberlands | Patriots | Williamsburg, Kentucky | 1,743 |
| Georgetown College | Tigers | Georgetown, Kentucky | 1,400 |
| Montreat College | Cavaliers | Montreat, North Carolina | 1,145 |
| Reinhardt University | Eagles | Waleska, Georgia | 1,057 |
| St. Andrews University | Knights | Laurinburg, North Carolina | 800 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Bulldogs | Athens, Tennessee | 1,100 |
| Truett McConnell University | Bears | Cleveland, Georgia | 1,000 | |
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
|---|
| Benedictine College | Ravens | Atchison, Kansas | 2,200 |
| Clarke University | Pride | Dubuque, Iowa | 1,100 |
| Culver–Stockton College | Wildcats | Canton, Missouri | 1,066 |
| Missouri Valley College | Vikings | Marshall, Missouri | 1,800 |
| St. Ambrose University | Fighting Bees | Davenport, Iowa | 3,402 |
| William Penn University | Statesmen | Oskaloosa, Iowa | 1,050 |
| Mount Mercy University | Mustangs | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 1,280 | |
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
|---|
| Ave Maria University | Gyrenes | Ave Maria, Florida | 1,080 |
| Keiser University | Seahawks | West Palm Beach, Florida | 19,510 |
| Life University | Running Eagles | Marietta, Georgia | 2,000 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Bees | Savannah, Georgia | 2,500+ |
| St. Thomas University | Bobcats | Miami Gardens, Florida | 3,650 |
| Warner University | Royals | Lake Wales, Florida | 1,200 |
| Webber International University | Warriors | Babson Park, Florida | 800 | |
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
|---|
| Aquinas College | Saints | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 2,100 |
| Bethel University | Pilots | Mishawaka, Indiana | 1,964 |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Cardinals | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 459 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology | Warriors | Fort Wayne, Indiana | 3,500 |
| Lawrence Technological University | Blue Devils | Southfield, Michigan | 4,000 |
| Madonna University | Crusaders | Livonia, Michigan | 3,139 |
| Rochester Christian University | Warriors | Rochester Hills, Michigan | 1,153 |
| Siena Heights University | Saints | Adrian, Michigan | 2,307 |
| Marian University | Knights | Indianapolis, Indiana | 3,595 |
| Lourdes University | Gray Wolves | Sylvania, Ohio | 1,546 | |
NAIA National Invitational Tournament (NIT) & National Championship Results
Men's NIT
List of NIT Champions
| School | Championships | Winning Years | Runner-Up | Runner-Up Years |
|---|
| Reinhardt | 5 | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 | | |
| Davenport | 1 | 2016 | | |
| Keiser | 1 | 2023 | 1 | 2017 |
| Indiana Tech | | | 3 | 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Missouri Valley | | | 1 | 2016 |
| Madonna | | | 1 | 2018 |
| Aquinas (MI) | | | 1 | 2019 | |
Women's NIT (2016-2019)
See main article: NAIA women's lacrosse championship.
List of NIT champions
See also: NAIA women's lacrosse championship.
| School | Championships | Winning Years | Runner-Up | Runner-Up Years |
|---|
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 3* | 2017, 2018, 2019 | | |
| Davenport | 1* | 2016 | | |
| Benedictine (KS) | | | 1 | 2019 |
| Lawrence Tech | | | 1 | 2017 |
| Georgetown (KY) | | | 1 | 2016 |
| Indiana Tech | | | 1 | 2018 | |
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: WHAC Adds Two Conference Sports for 2012-13. WHAC . January 27, 2012. November 7, 2017.
- News: Staff . Davenport Wins Inaugural Men's Lacrosse Invitational Title . NAIA . May 7, 2016 . February 25, 2020.
- News: Chasanoff . Tommy . Reinhardt Wins National Invitational Title . NAIA . May 6, 2017 . February 25, 2020.
- News: Green . Katie . Reinhardt (Ga.) Wins Second-Straight Lacrosse Invitational Title . NAIA . May 12, 2018 . February 25, 2020.
- News: Staff . 2019 Invitational Championship Game Recap . NAIA . May 12, 2019 . February 25, 2020.
- News: Staff . Reinhardt Captures Fourth Straight NAIA Men’s Lacrosse Invitational . NAIA . May 8, 2021 . December 18, 2021.
- News: Staff . Recap of the 2022 Men's Lacrosse Invitational Final . NAIA . May 14, 2022 . May 24, 2022.
- News: Staff . Recap of the 2023 NAIA Men's Lacrosse Invitational Final and All-Tournament Team . NAIA . May 13, 2023 . May 24, 2023.
- News: Staff . Davenport Wins Inaugural Women's Lacrosse Invitational Title . NAIA . May 7, 2016 . February 25, 2020.
- News: Chasanoff . Tommy . SCAD Savannah Wins Invitational Title . NAIA . May 6, 2017 . February 25, 2020.
- Web site: Lacrosse Box Score (Final) 2018 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) Women's Lacrosse Statistics Indiana Tech vs SCAD Savannah (Ga.) (May 12, 2018 at Grand Rapids, MI.) . NAIA . February 25, 2020.
- Web site: SCAD Savannah (Ga.) vs. Benedictine (Kan.) 5/11/2019 . NAIA . February 25, 2020.
